The Aliens Have Landed in Indianapolis! This will mark the fourth year in a row that this author has attended StarBase Indy. And it is always a fun time. Hanging out with the stars (and fans) of Star Trek, Stargate, Battlestar Galactica, or Star Wars, is an interesting conflagration of weird make up, costumes, (currently) impossible technological gadgets and gizmos, maybe a little magic and time travel for good measure. And it’s an escapist dream come true. Last year I went in my character of Jabez Cain, time-travelling mercenary slash troubadour.
Oz emerges from the Stargate at Starbase Indy 2013 . Image (c) Tuff Shake
As a truly unique experience, Starbase Indy is right up there with a tenth row seat at a Weird Al Yankovik stage production: Amazing fun, amazing costumes, amazing organization and coordination. It all leaves you wondering just what the hell happened and when can we do it again? This year, in addition to promoting my books and magazines, we’re there showcasing our newly incorporated enterprise, Possum Holler Entertainment, LLC. Video and audio capture, editing, mixing, reproduction, and performance support, event coordination and promotion. Stop by our table to hear or view some sample pieces and discuss what we can do for you.
Contributor’s Note: This will be the third year in a row that I have covered this convention and I am still thrilled! The organization, quality of guest stars, the displays, the side bar activities, and the shows keep this among the top cons in the genre. (Characters and source images are property of Universal Studios or MGM, used w/ permission)
When does 9 plus 1 equal 18? When stars from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Stargate SG-1 and Star Trek: The Next Generation combine for Starbase Indy: The 18th Generation Nov. 29 to Dec. 1. It’s a science fiction convention run by the fans, for the fans.
For this year’s event in the Indianapolis Marriott East at 7202 E. 21st St. , Rene Auberjonois (Odo) and Armin Shimerman (Quark) from Star Trek: Deep Space 9 will beam aboard. Joining them will be Teryl Rothery (Dr. Janet Frasier), Jay Acovone (Maj. Charles Kawalsky) and Musetta Vander (Shan’auc/Shauna) from SG-1 and Suzie Plakson (Worf’s mate K’Ehleyr) from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Besides Q&A sessions with the stars, fans can meet and mingle with the stars in the Marriott atrium.
And how about a Battle of the Bands – Federation vs. Klingon style? Catch the musical fireworks between the groups iL Troubadore and Five Year Mission. This year marks round three of the battle.
Science as well as science fiction has been an important component of Starbase Indy for many years. Among presentations this year will be talks on physics and forensics science, as well as superheroes and strong females. Take the kids along to enjoy children’s programming, including the Dow AgroSciences Science Ambassadors, who will provide hands-on science experiences.
For gamers, the Indy Knights game wing, The Imperial Remnant, will train recruits in “Revenge of the X-Wing,” a fantasy flight game; other sci-fi games are also planned for Star Wars and Star Trek fans. For interactive play, the Artemis Spaceship Bridge Simulator will give teams of people the chance to feel what it’s like to be on a starship bridge.
Starbase Indy attendees can dress as their favorite science fiction character during the weekend, indulge in some cosplay and participate in the masquerade contest on Saturday night. Other diversions include the Dealers Room with merchandise most Black Friday shoppers won’t find, and the Con Suite, where attendees can relax, socialize and pick up a quick snack.
The convention even hosts workshops on knitting for nerds and filmmaking.
During the three-day convention weekend, Starbase Indy attendees can obtain a 20% discount on admission to the world-class Children’s Museum of Indianapolis by showing their badge.
Online registration for all three days of Starbase Indy is $50 through the cutoff date in November, and $55 at the door. Daily rates are available at the door: $30 for Friday, $45 for Saturday and $35 for Sunday. Children under 12 are free. For more information or to register, go to www.starbaseindy.com or call 317 513-8651.
I just love it when somebody “gets in the spirit” of the celebration. In this case, the “celebration” is StarBase Indy, a Star Trek convention in Indianapolis Thanksgiving weekend. The Shane Company is sponsoring a portion of the “CON” insomuch as they paid to transport and secure a NASA moon rock for display at the Marriott Indianapolis East 21st Street venue.
However, if the ad agency is aware of the implications and irony of the ad, I would be very surprised. This is not an ad that would appeal to most bachelors, although Trekkers are not most bachelors. I wonder if the rocks on that ring are dilithium crystals…
I also wondered what they would do as a hand model recruiting ad for this sheet.
Modeling Position Available: Hand model needed. Real Alien implants preferred, but make up and appliques available to the right candidate. Must have reliable transporter.
I attended last year’s event and I can honestly say I enjoyed every minute – even tho I ended up sleeping the first night on a couch in the lobby. This year also features some fantastic personalities from those movies and TV shows with “STAR” in their titles -Rick Osmon
View a special NASA exhibit and tribute to astronaut Neil Armstrong at Starbase Indy, a Midwest science fiction convention, during Thanksgiving weekend Nov. 23-25 in the Indianapolis Marriott East, 7202 E. 21st St. Also on tap will be a chance for a Klingon makeover by a makeup professional, as well as guest stars from the television shows Star Trek and Stargate SG-1.
Besides the NASA exhibit and guest stars, the weekend festivities at Starbase Indy will include Star Trek-based musical groups, arcade games, robot battles, a masquerade, sessions on science and science fiction, and a free showing of Joss Whedon’s The Avengers (2012) at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 23.
“Starbase Indy’s Tribute to Neil Armstrong NASA Exhibit brought to Indianapolis by Shane Company” came about when Starbase Indy wanted to honor Neil Armstrong, the first human to set foot on the moon. He passed away this year, but his life encouraged many young people to reach for the stars. Starbase Indy contacted NASA to arrange a special exhibit of memorabilia from America’s space program; among the items will be an Apollo helmet and space shuttle glove, a moon globe, Apollo 11 displays, and 12 to 25 NASA photos of the historic mission. Hoosier native and NASA astronaut David Wolf is also scheduled to attend Starbase Indy, pending NASA approval.
Turning from science to science fiction, one Starbase Indy attendee will win a full Klingon makeup treatment from professional makeup artist John Paladin. Paladin will also create Klingons out of actors Robert O’Reilly and JG Hertzler for their in-character appearance on stage and for photo ops Saturday, Nov. 24; both portrayed Klingons on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Other guest stars are Nicole DeBoer, who played series regular Ezri Dax on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; Alexis Cruz from Stargate SG-1; and Deborah Downey from the original Star Trek. Larry Nemecek, a prominent Star Trek author, archivist and consultant, will share his insights.
Beside seeing guest stars, convention-goers can don otherworldly garb to wander the halls of the Marriott and to strut their stuff on stage in the Masquerade contest, where the convention stage is built like the bridge of the starship Enterprise. Other convention activities include a robotics room to build and battle robots, and a 1980s video arcade room with games set on free play. Of course, the dealers’ room offers out-of-this-world items for science fiction fans who seek to beat the Black Friday crowds. Dinner with the Stars is back again this year, giving fans a chance to mingle with the stars and see them perform.
Star Trek fans can rock on with the second annual Battle of the Bands between Five Year Mission, a musical group that composes songs based on episodes of the original Star Trek, and il Troubadore, a Klingon band; both are Indianapolis bands. More music is in store during a Five Year Mission concert and a music room where other bands will play.
Starbase Indy is a non-profit organization and supports charities in the tradition of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, who believed humans could create a better future. This year Starbase Indy’s charities are Cats Haven, a no-kill shelter; LUNGevity, which funds research and treatment of lung cancer; and the Jason Foundation, an educational organization dedicated to the awareness and prevention of youth suicide.
Cost to register for the entire three-day weekend is $40 in advance and $45 at the door, a price that has changed little since the early 1990s. Single day prices are $25 for Friday, Nov. 23; $35 for Saturday, Nov. 24; and $30 for Sunday, Nov. 25. Children age 12 and under are free. This is the 17th year for Starbase Indy, a convention run by local fans, for fans. For more information or to register, go to www.starbaseindy.com or call (317) 513-8651.
SpaceX rocket to carry the remains of sci-fi actor James Doohan and more than 300 hardcore space enthusiasts into space.
Star Trek fans remember him as the USS Enterprise’s chief engineer, a no-nonsense Scot whose role at the controls of the ship’s transporter system spawned one of sci-fi’s most legendary catchphrases.
On Tuesday however, it will be the turn of actor James Doohan himself to be “beamed up” to where few have ventured before when his remains, and that of more than 300 hardcore space enthusiasts, are blasted into orbit aboard a privately owned rocket.
Space Exploration Technologies’ Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral in Florida carrying a 14.5-foot-tall (4.4-meter-tall) capsule called Dragon that is filled with food, clothes and supplies for the six astronauts and cosmonauts living aboard the International Space Station. . . . Read Complete Report
On a whim, I constructed this video as a tribute to the late James Doohan, who played Scotty on Trek — this spans his career in the fleet, in roughly chronological order.
This will mark the fourth year in a row that this author has attended StarBase Indy. And it is always a fun time. Hanging out with the stars (and fans) of Star Trek, Stargate, Battlestar Galactica, or Star Wars, is an interesting conflagration of weird make up, costumes, (currently) impossible technological gadgets and gizmos, maybe a little magic and time travel for good measure. And it’s an escapist dream come true. Last year I went in my character of Jabez Cain, time-travelling mercenary slash troubadour.
